Siphon valve water control



Aug. 29, 1967 S. R. HORVATH SIPHON VALVE .WATER CONTROL Filed Aug.

INVENTOR.

STEVEN R. HORVATH ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiiice 3,338,258 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,258 SIPHON VALVE WATER CONTROL Steven R. Horvath, Detroit, Mich., assignor of one-third to Henry J. Kulick, Allen Park, Mich., and one-third to John Luka, Detroit, Mich.

Filed Aug. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 387,612 7 Claims. (Cl. 137-123) The invention relates to valves and refers more specifically to improved siphon type, water control valve structure for toilet flush tanks or the like.

The commonly used ball cock type of valve means for toilet flush tanks is undesirable in that it has a characteristic noisiness in operation and is subject to wear which prevents proper shut-01f and thus constant drainage of water from the flush tank with extended use.

Further, known siphon type water control valve structure has had dilficulty in meeting the requirements of some plumbing codes wherein the water control valve structure is required to withstand a substantial vacuum applied to the usual water inlet coupling of the valve without back siphoning the toilet flush tank in which the valve is installed. Thus the known siphon type water control valve structures have not had as wide a use as they would have otherwise had even though they have considerable advantage over the ball cock type of valve means in that they are inherently silent in operation and have extremely few moving parts which are subject to little if any wear.

In addition, prior siphon type water control valve structures have been deficient in that should a leak occur in the water inlet pipe or the actuating diaphragm for example no external indication of the leak would be apparent from the exterior of the toilet flush tank in which a valve was installed whereby considerable quantities of water might be drained away before the leak is discovered. Further, with many of the siphon type water control valve structures presently in use a small leak in the actuating diaphragm would cause the valve to remain in an open condition at all times which is particularly undesirable.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved siphon type water control valve structure.

Another object is to provide siphon type water control valve structure for toilet flush water tanks and the like in which vacuum applied to the water inlet coupling will not drain the toilet flush water tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide siphon type water control valve structure in which leakage of the water inlet pipe or actuating diaphragm is immediately evident from the exterior of a toilet flush water tank in which the valve is installed Another object is to provide improved siphon type water control valve structure for a toilet flush water tank including a water inlet pipe, a diaphragm housing surrounding the water inlet pipe, an actuating diaphragm positioned in said diaphragm housing, a valve for said water inlet pipe, valve support structure connected to and movable with said diaphragm, a siphon tube extending through said diaphragm housing at the upper side of the diaphragm, a vent from said diaphragm housing at the underside of said diaphragm, means preventing back siphoning through the water inlet pipe on application of vacuum thereto, and means for indicating leaks in the diaphragm and the water inlet.

Another object is to provide structure as set forth above wherein the means for indicating leaks in the water inlet pipe comprises a chamber, means connecting the chamber to the atmosphere at the exterior of said toilet flush water tank and a transparent tube surrounding the water inlet pipe and in communication with said chamber.

Another object is to provide structure as set forth above wherein the means for indicating leaks in said actuating diaphragm comprises means for connecting said chamber to the diaphragm housing at the other side of said diaphragm.

Another object is to provide improved siphon type water control valve structure which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and eflicient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section view of siphon type water control valve structure constructed in accordance with the invention installed in a toilet flush water tank.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross section of the siphon type water control valve structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken substantially 0n the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawing one embodiment of the present invention will now be considered in detail.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the siphon type water control valve structure 10 of the invention is installed in toilet flush tank structure 12. In addition to the siphon type water control valve structure 10 the toilet flush tank structure 12 includes the usual toilet flush tank 14, the flush water discharge structure 16 and the flush valve assembly 18.

In operation when the flush valve assembly 18 is actuated to open the flush water discharge structure 16 to permit emptying of the water from the tank 14, the water control valve structure 10 operates to refill the tank 14 to the predetermined water level 116. In accordance with the invention the water control valve structure 10 includes means for preventing draining of the toilet flush water tank due to a vacuum applied to the water inlet pipe thereof and means for positively indicating leaking of the water inlet pipe and actuating diaphragm of the water control valve.

More specifically the toilet flush water tank 14 may be constructed of vitreous material and has the open upper end 20 over which the usual cover for the tank 14 may be positioned. The tank 14 further includes the openings 22 and 24 extending through the bottom 26 thereof. The flush water discharge structure 16 is secured in the opening 22 while the siphon type water control valve structure 10 is secured in the opening 24, as shown in FIGURE 1. I

The flush Water discharge structure 16 includes the overflow pipe 28 connected to the discharge pipe 30 by convenient coupling means 32. Coupling means 32 includes the valve seat 34 for the rubber ball valve 36 of the flush valve assembly 18. The discharge pipe 30 is secured in the opening 22 by means of the nut 38 and washer 40 on the exterior of the tank 14 and the sealing gasket 42 and coupling member 32 on the inside of the tank 14.

Flush valve assembly 18 includes the usual rubber ball valve 36 secured to the valve stem 44. The valve stem 44 is provided with the eyelet 46 at the upper end thereof, as shown in FIGURE 1, and is guided for vertical reciprocal movement in the bracket 48 supported on the overflow pipe 28. Lever 50 which is supported by the usual flush handle (not shown) is connected to the valve stem 44 through connecting link 52. Connecting link 52 is pivotally secured to the lever 50 at end 54 and is provided with the eyelet 56 at the opposite end thereof through which the valve stem 44 extends.

The siphon type water control valve structure 10 of the invention includes a flush water inlet coupling 58 having axially and radially extending openings 60 therein and the hollow cylindrical member 62 which forms chamber 64 and is rigidly connected to or integral with the upper end 66 of the inlet coupling 58. The hollow cylindrical member 62 and flush water inlet coupling 58 are secured in the opening 24 by the nut 68 threaded on the coupling 58 in conjunction with the sealing gasket 70. The openings 60 extend from the chamber 64 to the exterior of the toilet flush water tank 14 at the exterior of the coupling 58.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the siphon type water control valve structure 10 further includes the diaphragm housing 72 having the external cylindrical portion 74 and the internal cylindrical portion 76 extending vertically from the diaphragm chamber 78 formed between the lower portions 80 and 82 of the diaphragm housing 72, as shown best in FIGURE 1. The form retaining resilient diaphragm 84 is sandwiched between the portions 80 and 82 of the diaphragm housing 72 about the outer periphery thereof, as shown best in FIGURE 1. Diaphragm 84 is constructed of Mylar, but may be metal or similar material.

A valve supporting tube 86 is secured around the inner periphery 88 f the diaphragm 84 and extends vertically upwardly between the inner and outer cylindrical portions 74 and 76 of the diaphragm housing 72 to rigidly connect at the upper end 90 thereof to the valve supporting member 92. Valve supporting member 92 includes the cylindrical portion 94 positioned interiorly of the inner cylindrical portion 76 of diaphragm housing 72, the cylindrical portion 96 for venting the valve supporting member 92 and the cylindrical portion 98 in which the valve 100 is adjustably held by the threaded member 102 rigidly secured within the cylindrical portion 98 of the valve supporting member 92. Overflow tube 104 extends from the valve supporting member 92 t0 the overflow pipe 28 in the usual manner.

The siphon type water control valve structure of FIGURE 1 further includes the connecting and supporting conduits 106 extending between the chamber 64 of the cylindrical member 62 and the lower portion of the chamber 78 of diaphragm housing 72.

A water inlet pipe 108 is connected to the water inlet coupling 58, as shown in FIGURE 1. The transparent tube 110 surrounds the water inlet pipe 108 and terminates in a sealing portion 112 in the cylindrical portion 94 of the valve supporting member 92 operable between the member 92 and the water inlet pipe 108.

As shown in FIGURE 1 a siphon tube 114 extends from the chamber 78 adjacent the upper side of diaphragm 84 up to the desired water level 116 and back to a point below the end 118 thereof at the end 120.

In operation with the valve 36 of flush valve assembly 18 seated on valve seat 34 and the water level in the toilet flush water tank 14 at the level 116 as shown in FIGURE 1, there will be water in the siphon tube 114 and in the upper portion of chamber 78. The water in the chamber 78 will provide a pressure over diaphragm 84 acting in opposition to the pressure exerted by the water in the water inlet pipe 108 against the valve 100 through the valve supporting member 92 and valve supporting tube 86 to seal the water inlet pipe 108 at valve 100.

On raising lever 50 of the flush valve assembly 18 the valve 36 will unseat to allow the water in the tank 14 to proceed through the flush water discharge pipe 30. As the water in the tank 14 recedes below the level of the water in the chamber 78 the water in chamber 78 will be siphoned out by means of siphon tube 114. The chamber 78 will be substantially empty when the water in the tank 14 recedes to the end 120 of the siphon tube 114.

The draining of the water from the chamber 78 will reduce the pressure on diaphragm 84 so that the pressure on the valve from the water inlet pipe 108 connected through coupling 5 8 to the usual pressurized water supply (not shown) will cause the valve 100, valve supporting member 92 and valve supporting tube 86 to rise vertically with deformation of diaphragm 84 to allow water to again run into the flush water tank 14.v

When the valve 36 again seats on the seat 34 due to gravity in the usual manner of operation of the flush water discharge structure 16 and flush valve assembly 18 water will begin to rise in the tank 14 and consequently in the siphon tube 114. When the water in the tank reaches the upper level of the siphon tube 114 a slight additional amount of water in the tank 14 will fill the chamber 78 due to siphoning by the siphon tube tube 114 whereby the valve 100 will again be closed due to the pressure of the water in chamber 78 acting on diaphragm 84. The water will then be at the desired level 116 and a complete cycle of the siphon tube water control valve structure '10 will have been accomplished.

With the siphon type water control valve structure 10 it will be noted that it is impossible to drain the tank 14 by applying vacuum to the water inlet coupling 58 even with the valve 100 completely open. Thus portion 96 vents the valve support member 92 while valve support member 92 is sealed with respect to the rest of the water control valve structure 10 by means of the sealing portion 112 on the tube 110. The water control valve structure 10 is thus capable of meeting the usual vacuum tests for such valves required in plumbing codes.

In addition it will be noted that due to the inclusion of the hollow cylindrical member 62 the conduits 106 extending between the cylindrical member 62 and the lower portion of the diaphragm housing structure 72 along with the tube and the passages 60in the water inlet coupling 58 should a leak occur in the diaphragm 84 or water inlet pipe 108 water would leak into chamber 64 and out of the inlet coupling 58 through openings 60 to provide a positive visual indication of leakage externally of the tank 14. Since the tube 110 is constructed of transparent plastic if it is the input pipe 108 which is leaking visual indication thereof will be provided with the siphon valve water control structure 10.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments and modifications of the present invention are contemplated. It is therefore desired to include within the scope of the invention all embodiments and modifications thereof as are defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Siphon type fluid control valve structure comprising a flush water inlet coupling having a water inlet passage extending therethrough, a water inlet pipe one end of which is secured to the water inlet coupling over the water inlet passage therethrough, a diaphragm housing having inner and outer cylindrical portions concentric with said water inlet pipe, a diaphragm positioned within the diaphragm housing, a valve supporting tube positioned between and concentric with the inner and outer cylindrical portions of the diaphragm housing, one end of which is secured to the inner periphery of the diaphragm, a valve supporting member secured to the other end of the valve supporting tube having a cylindrical portion, a valve positioned over the water inlet pipe supported by the valve supporting member for movement into and out of sealing engagement with the other end of the water inlet pipe in accordance with the position of the valve supporting tube as determined by the diaphragm, a tube one end of which is connected to the flush water inlet coupling concentric with and between the water inlet pipe and the inner cylindrical portion of the diaphragm housing having sealing means at the other end thereof for sealing the space between the cylindrical portion of the valve supporting member and the water inlet pipe adjacent the other end thereof, water overflow means secured to the valve. supporting member and a siphon tube connected into the diaphragm housing above the diaphragm extending first upward toward the other end of the Water inlet pipe and then downward toward the one end of the water inlet pipe below the diaphragm.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve supporting member includes a second cylindrical portion open at one end and the water overflow means comprises an overflow tube connected into the valve supporting member and an overflow pipe receiving the other end of the overflow tube.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means connected to the diaphragm housing for detecting a leak in the diaphragm.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for detecting a leak in the diaphragm comprises a cylindrical chamber at one end of the inlet coupling, passages through the inlet coupling opening into said cylindrical chamber, conduits extending between the cylindrical chamber and the diaphragm housing beneath the diaphragm, and a passage extending through the flush water inlet coupling in communication with the cylindrical chamber. 7

5. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for detecting a leak in the water inlet pipe.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for detecting a leak in the water inlet pipe comprises a cylindrical chamber in said water inlet coupling, and a connection between the space between the transparent tube and the water inlet pipe and the cylindrical chamber, and a passage extending th ough the flush water inlet coupling in communication with the cylindrical chamber.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the water overflow means includes an overflow pipe extending parallel to said water inlet pipe, an overflow tube, one end of which is connected to the valve supporting member and the other end of which is inserted in the overflow pipe, the tube between the water inlet pipe and the inner cylindrical portion of the diaphragm housing is transparent, and a cylindrical chamber is provided in the flush'water inlet coupling in communication the transparent tube and water members extending between the diaphragm housing and cylindrical chamber beneath the diaphragm and an outlet passage in the coupling connected to the cylindrical chamber.

inlet pipe, cylindrical References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,928 7/1919 Carlson 137-153 X 2,442,927 6/1948 Horvath 137-403 2,685,301 8/1954 Dreier 137-403 X 2,727,527 12/ 1955 Horvath 137-403 2,791,235 5/1957 Smith 137-437 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. H. KLINKSIEK, Assistant Examiner.

with the space between I 

1. SIPHON TYPE FLUID CONTROL VALVE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FLUSH WATER INLET COUPLING HAVING A WATER INLET PASSAGE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A WATER INLET PIPE ONE END OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE WATER INLET COUPLING OVER THE WATER INLET PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A DIAPHRAGM HOUSING HAVING INNER AND OUTER CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS CONCENTRIC WITH SAID WATER INLET PIPE, A DIAPHRAGM POSITIONED WITHIN THE DIAPHRAGM HOUSING, A VALVE SUPPORTING TUBE POSITIONED BETWEEN AND CONCENTRIC WITH THE INNER AND OUTER CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS OF THE DIAPHRAGM HOUSING, ONE END OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE DIAPHRAGM, A VALVE SUPPORTING MEMBER SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF THE VALVE SUPPORTING TUBE HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION, A VALVE POSITIONED OVER THE WATER INLET PIPE SUPPORTED BY THE VALVE SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER END OF THE WATER INLET PIPE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITION OF THE VALVE SUPPORTING TUBE AS DETERMINED BY THE DIAPHRAGM, A TUBE ONE END OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE FLUSH WATER INLET COUPLING CONCENTRIC WITH AND BETWEEN THE WATER INLET PIPE AND THE INNER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE DIAPHRAGM HOUSING HAVING SEALING MEANS AT THE OTHER END THEREOF FOR SEALING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE VALVE SUPPORTING MEMBER AND THE WATER INLET PIPE ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF, WATER OVERFLOW MEANS SECURED TO THE VALVE SUPPORTING MEMBER AND A SIPHON TUBE CONNECTED INTO THE DIAPHRAGM HOUSING ABOVE THE DIAPHRAGM EXTENDING FIRST UPWARD TOWARD THE OTHER END OF THE WATER INLET PIPE AND THEN DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ONE END OF THE WATER INLET PIPE BELOW THE DIAPHRAGM. 